Device for carrying bags, particularly refuse bags

ABSTRACT

The device converts the bags into baskets, particularly refuse baskets and may support other objects and accessories. The device comprises three supports: a vertical frame, a base and two pivoting rods. The vertical frame and the base are joined by an axis of the two pivoting rods. The vertical frame is locked with the base by means of hooks of the base. The bag is laid having one side supported by the vertical top where the angle thereof passes through the handle of the bag and a portion of the wall covers the rounded sides of the frame. The opposite side of the bag is supported by means at the extremities of the two pivotating rods. The device may be suspended by its angle and the base may be unlocked to let long bags pass through. The vertical frame may have along its two arms a plurality of supporting means to support more twin supporting rods which will carry other bags and/or horizontal supports as that of the base to sustain tissues boxes, etc. and these supports may be mounted on one and/or both sides of the vertical frame which will then have one base on either side.

The invention relates to a device for converting bags into baskets,particularly rubbish or refuse baskets and for supporting other objectsand accessories.

The present invention relates more particularly to a device for carryingbags so as to make baskets out of them, particularly for rubbish, withthe possibility of supporting one or more bags at one and the same timeand/or other objects and accessories and which may serve for differentuses.

The device of the present invention may carry bags of various sizes. Itmay be placed on the ground on a folding base or be suspended. It ismade from plasticized resilient metal rods, but may be made from plasticand/or other materials. It normally comprises three supports: a supportin the vertical position in the form of an upturned V with the sides,close to the angle, rounded. The ends of its arms each end in a ringshaped loop on which the second support may pivot formed by a shaft withits projections on both sides which are bent symmetrically forming withthe shaft angles which set them up as two U shaped rods (where theirjoint which is the shaft is straight) and having at their ends fastenersfor supporting the bag. The shaft for its part carries a third supportwhich is the base and which also has the form of a U but horizontallythrough its loops which are situated at the ends of its two arms andwhich will be positioned between the rings of the arms of the verticalsupport. When the base is turned in the horizontal position, the twohooks which extend from the base from loops towards the arms of thevertical support hook onto the arms of this latter, locking the verticalsupport with the base and forming therebetween an angle normally of 90°.When the base is subjected to an opposite thrust, it is unlocked andfolds. Thus, the present device may be set on its base holding thevertical support fixed and having the two rods joined in a U-shaped formpivoting freely between said two members. The bag is set on this devicewhile having one side supported by the top of the vertical support wherethe angle of said support passes through the handle of the bag and apart of the wall is wrapped on the rounded sides. The opposite side ofthe bag is held by the fasteners at the ends of the two pivoting rods.The device may be suspended by its top angle and the base may beunlocked by folding so as to accomodate bags of great heights. On thesame shaft several sets of two pivoting rods may be provided on bothsides of the vertical support, but they will have the form of an Hinstead of a U with rings at their lower ends, considering that a shaftalready exists. The first two rods on each side of the vertical supportwill support the bags in conjunction with the angle of the verticalsupport.

The bags which follow will be supported successively by the hooks of thefour rods. The rods may vary in length.

The hooks on the ends of the two pivoting rods act in conjunction withloops, either which precede them or which surround them. The hook servesfor piercing the side of the bag and the loop for supporting the piercedmargin so as to prevent it from sliding downards. In the case where thehook is external to the loop, it will be provided with a cap for thesake of safety.

The pivoting rods may also be slanted vertically and symmetrically at apoint along their arms each forming an angle which will produce a kindof suspension for reducing the tension on the side of the bag when thislatter is suspended from the ends of said rods. The rods thus slantedalso have the advantage of being able to be used for carrying apermanent decorative or advertising cover without causing the center ofgravity of the device to be moved when the bag is filled.

It will be useful to emphasize that the pivoting rods which are madefrom a resilient material and each of which forms with their shaft anangle for folding them against the sides and opening them out again makeit possible for the user to attain a variety of positions on the wall ofthe bag which will determine the dimensions and the shape of the openingof the bag.

The bag may be closed by pushing the two pivoting rods which hold oneside of the bag towards the opposite side where their hooks will beslanted and retained behind the arms of the other support.

The base or the U shaped horizontal support may extend on one side or onboth sides of the vertical support. For extending it on both sides, thearms of the horizontal support should be extended from the loops fromwhere the shaft slides. The projections of the hooks will be extendedfrom where the extensions of the arms have stopped.

The above described vertical support may have along its two arms loopsor other means for supporting shafts and/or accessories, held in thevertical position by a base which extends on both sides and the shaftwhich joins them being removable. Thus, there is the possibility ofarranging the members and/or accessories depending on requirements. Atthe bottom of one side a two rod pivoting support may be added forholding a bag and, on the other side, using the high loops foraccomodating a horizontal support for laying thereon a tissue box, etc.The accessories may be folding and/or interchangeable.

In a variant, the above described vertical support in the form on anupturned V may be substituted by a vertical support having the shape ofa U (where the joint of the two rods is straight) or in the form of an Hheld by a folding base. Their two high ends each end in a hook loop asdescribed above. The arms may have loops along their length forsupporting the same accessories as in the case of the vertical supportin the form on an upturned V. The bags will always be supported by fourrods which are sufficiently flexible, two of which will be pivotable,making it possible to readily accomodate a variety of bags. The devicein this variant may be suspended from the wall using a support which hasthe form on an upturned V. The two ends of which end in hooks which maybe inserted in the loop situated on the two arms of the vertical supportin the form of a U or an H. This support makes it possible to do withoutthe base, if it is desired simply to suspend the device.

In another variant, the above described base may be replaced by a basehaving the form of two crossed bars which fold up parallel. It consistsof two bars made from plastic, wood or another material, one disposedabove the other in parallel joined by a shaft at their center. The topone encircles the bottom one at the two ends by means of feet whicharrive at the same level as the bottom bar. When the bottom bar isrotated to form a cross, the four ends of the bars will be at the samelevel. The top bar may be connected to the two feet of the arms of anyvertical support mentioned above by holding them in the straightposition.

A clearing device for emptying the contents of objects into the bag isan accessory to this device which may be added as an integral part. Itincludes an empty circle or ring with its support which is fixed at theside of the angle of the vertical support for situating it at theopening of the bag. It has been made round for reaching into the hollowsand profiled shapes of dishes or other receptacles. It may be removablefor replacing it by a wiper or other stable or mobile geometrical figurefor emptying and/or wiping objects.

A variant consists in simplying the device by reducing it to twoelements: the vertical support with the two pivoting rods, that is tosay by eliminating the base. Thus, the bag will be supported as in thecase of the three element device, by the vertical support on one sideand the two pivoting rods on the other. The device may be simplysuspended by the angle at the top. It may be equipped with a clearingdevice.

In another variant, the device is further reduced to a vertical supportin the form of an upturned V as described above but having the armsreduced and/or folded so as to support a clearing device which forms anintegral part therewith. The bag will be supported on one side only. Thedevice will be suspended by its top angle.

A variant in the construction of the horizontal support resides in thefact that it may have pivots in place of loops for replacing the use ofa shaft. The horizontal support will always have its projections whichend in a hook on each side and which hook onto the arms of the verticalsupport so that it is horizontally locked therewith.

FIG. 1 shows in a front view the device of the invention set on its basewhich extends on a single side, before the bag has been positioned,

FIG. 2 shows, in a side view, the device, supporting a transparentplastic bag, set on its base,

FIG. 3 shows, in a side view, the device supporting a bag and hookedonto a wall and having the base unlocked so as to accommodate bags oflong dimensions,

FIG. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 show the accessories, such as bases orshelves and shafts, in various forms and positions,

FIG. 12 shows, in a front view, the device of the invention set on itsbase which extends on both sides of the vertical support and, on theopposite side, pivots a twin rod support in the form of a U which formsat the same time the shaft for joining its two rods together and on theopposite side pivots another twin rod support which has the shape of anH, considering that it pivots on the same axis of the first support.This device makes it possible to support a bag on each side of thevertical support.

FIG. 13 shows, in a front view, the device without its elements exceptfor the vertical support which has loops along both its sides and itsfolding base which holds it vertically and an independent shaft whichjoins the two together. Thus presented, elements and acessories may beadded thereto in a desired arrangement.

FIGS. 14 and 15 show, in a front view, the device in two differentarrangements. FIG. 14 has the vertical support equipped on each sidewith two pivoting U shaped rods, but placed at different levels. Theyare in position ready, each one, to support a bag. FIG. 15 shows thatthe vertical support has on one side two pivoting rods in the openposition at the level of the base and, on the other side, a horizontalsupport which extends from one side, like a shelf mounted on the toploops of the vertical by means of a removable shaft which is locked byits hooks at both sides of the vertical. The two FIGS. have theirvertical support held by a folding base which extends on both sides ofthe vertical support.

FIG. 16 shows, in a side view, the device of the invention supporting abag and laid on a base which varies from the preceding ones. It is inthe form of two crossed bars which fold up parallel. The upper bar isconnected to the feet of the two arms of the vertical support. The FIG.also shows an accessory which is the clearing means and which is fixedby its support at the side of the angle of the vertical support.

FIG. 17 shows, in a front view, the cross shaped base applied to thedevice of FIG. 16, in the closed position.

FIG. 18 shows, in a front view, the device with its vertical U shapedsupport and the ends of the vertical in the form of hooks serving assupports, held by a folding base. On the two arms of the verticalsupport are disposed two pivoting rods supported by the loops providedon the two arms.

FIG. 19 shows, in a front view, the device with its vertical support inthe form of an H and the ends of the vertical in the form of hooksserving as supports, held by a folding base by means of a shaft. On thetwo arms of the vertical support are set two pivoting rods supported bythe loops provided on the two arms.

FIG. 20 shows, in a front view, a support for fastening the vertical Uor H shaped support shown in FIGS. 18 and 19 to a wall or similar.

FIG. 21 shows, in a side view, the device reduced to two elements: thevertical support and the twin pivoting rods, without the base,supporting a transparent plastic bag and suspended from a wall. (It isshown in sheet 6/8).

FIG. 22 shows, in a front view, the device reduced to one element whichis the vertical support shortened and integrated with the clearingmeans, suspended on a wall.

FIG. 23 is the same as FIG. 22 but supporting a transparent plastic bag.

FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 show a bag carrying device of the invention includingthree elements: a vertical frame (1, 3, 2) a folding base (15, 14, 13,12, 11, 10) see also FIG. 4, and twin pivoting rods (4, 5, 6) and (9, 8,7) which are joined at 6 and 7 forming together a U shape where theshaft (6, 7) joins the three elements together by loops 1 and 2belonging to the vertical frame (1, 3, 2) and loops 14 and 11 belongingto the base (15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10). By joining hooks 10 and 15belonging to the base with the arms of the frame (1, 3, 2), the frame islocked with the base forming therebetween normally an angle of 90°. Thetwin rods (4, 5, 6) and (9, 8, 7) with their shaft (6, 7) remain free topivot between the two elements.

A transparent plastic bag 40 is positioned having the opening 41 of itshandle disposed over angle 3. The handle and a part of the wall arewrapped at 42 and 43. The opposite side of the bag is pulled under thevault of the frame and fastened on hooks 4 and 9 which are at the end ofthe twin pivoting rods. The bag is thus supported and held open in frontby the thrust of the twin pivoting rods and by the sides since the rodswhich form angles 6 and 7 and are made of a resilient material pull ontwo opposite sides. Thus the bag will be held open width wise and depthwise. For bags which have great heights, the base of the device may beunlocked by releasing hooks 10 and 15, and the base (14, 13, 12, 11)folds up and is disposed vertically as shown in FIG. 3 and/or the deviceis suspended by its angle 3.

The twin pivoting rods are bent at 5 and 8 each forming an angle whichmakes it possible to create a suspension so as to reduce the tension onthe bag when this latter is supported by the two rods (4, 5, 6) and (9,8, 7). The two rods (4, 5) and (9, 8) thus slanted offer anotheradvantage which makes it possible for them to support a permanentdecorative or advertising cover without moving the center of gravity ofthe device when the bag fills up.

FIG. 12 shows that the base (18, 19, 14, 13, 12, 11, 17, 16) see alsoFIG. 7, extends on both sides of the vertical frame (1, 3, 2).

On the same shaft (6, 7) as the twin rods (4, 5, 6) and (9, 8, 7) two ormore twin pivoting rods may be provided for supporting two or more bagsat the same time, as shown in FIG. 12 at (25, 24, 23) and (26, 27, 28)joined together by the joint (24, 27). At 23 and 28 are shown the loopsbelonging to the twin rods in the form of an H through which the shaft(6, 7) slides. The hook loops at 25, 26, 4 and 9 are here shown inanother way. They are formed so that the loop encircles the hook as asafety measure. In the other system, which is shown in the otherdrawings as in FIG. 1, the hook extends outside of the loop, in whichcase the hooks may be equipped with caps.

FIGS. 13, 14 and 15 show that the vertical frame (1, 3, 2) may beprovided along its two arms with loops such as 1, 30, 33, 38, 39, 34,31, 2 or by a support means for accomodating shafts or pivots. Thevertical frame may be held by a base (18, 19, 14, 13, 12, 11, 17, 16)which may be foldable, and removable using an independent shaft (35, 36,37) as shown in FIG. 13. With these basic elements, any desiredarrangement may be made, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. FIG. 14 shows thatthe independent shaft has been replaced by the shaft (6, 7) belonging tothe twin pivoting rods (4, 5, 6) and (9, 8, 7). Two other pivoting rodsin the shape of a U (29, 30) (32, 31) in conjunction with their shafts(30, 31) are placed on higher loops at 30 and 31. Which means that thisarrangement makes it possible to support two bags at the same time. FIG.15 shows another arrangement where, on one side of the frame, twinpivoting rods (4, 5, 6, 8, 9) in the form of a U are installed which areslanted at the level of the base, and which may be raised for supportinga bag conjointly with the top of the frame; and on the other side, on anindependent shaft (35, 36, 37) which is supported by the loops of theframe at 33 and 34, is disposed a support (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15) bymeans of loops 11 and 14 and which is fixed in the horizontal directionby its hooks (11, 10) and (14, 15) hooking onto the sides of the frameat 10 and 15. The horizontal frame thus formed may support a tissue boxor a tray, etc. This support, like all the other elements of the device,is made of plasticized resilient metal rod. Other supports may be addedand be locked at any angle depending on the requirements.

FIG. 16 is the same as FIG. 2 except that the base has been replaced bya base formed of two bars 45 and 46, which are crossed by their center44 and fold up parallel, FIG. 17. The ends of the bottom bar reachpoints 47 and 48, which means that the top bar may have feet so that thefour ends of the two bars have the same level when they are crossed. Thevertical frame (1, 3, 2) is connected to the base by its two projections1 and 2 which are fixed to the upper bar. FIG. 16 shows the device witha clearing means (51, 50, 49) which is an optional accessory and whichmay be an integral part of the device of the invention.

A variant to the vertical frame would be a frame having the form of a Uand/or of an H held vertically as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19. The vertical(52, 53, 54, 55) of FIG. 18 is held by a folding base (16, 17, 11, 12,13, 14, 19, 18). The vertical by means of its loops 30 and 31 supportstwin pivoting rods in the form of a U (29, 30, 31, 32). The bag will besupported by the hook loops of the four rods, on one side by 52 and 55and on the opposite side by 29 and 32. The FIG. shows the two kinds ofhook loops. FIG. 19 shows the vertical frame in the form of an H. Rod(56, 60, 57) and rod (58, 61, 59) are joined together by the joint (60,61). At their ends 56 and 58 they form hook loops and at the bottom ends57 and 59 they form loops for passing therethrough a shaft (35, 36, 37)on which the base is held in position and is fastened to the sides ofthe vertical so as to hold it at an angle normally of 90°. As in thepreceding cases, twin pivoting rods or horizontal supports may beprovided along the two arms. The two U shaped or H shaped verticalframes may be suspended using a support (66, 65, 67) shown in FIG. 20,where the hooks at 66 and 67 hook onto loops which are provided on thetwo arms of the verticals which may be at 33 and 34 or those which areplaced lower down. Said devices may then be suspended by the angle 65.

FIG. 21 shows the device reduced to two elements: the vertical support(1, 3, 2) and the two rod assembly (4, 5, 6) and (9, 8, 7) which arejoined by the shaft (6, 7) which pivots on the rings of the two arms ofthe vertical support at (1) and (2). It supports a bag 40 in the sameway as in FIGS. 2, 3 and 16. It is suspended by its top angle (3).

FIGS. 22 and 23 show the device (68, 3, 69), still formed as a rod,reduced to a minimum and having the two support forming arms (70) and(71) folded and extended so as to hold or form the clearing means (51)which is projected towards the center of the opening of the bag (40), asshown in FIG. 23. The bag is supported on a single side. The angle (3)passes through the opening of the handle (41) and a part of the wall ofthe bag is wrapped on the rounded parts of the device (42) and (43). Theopposite side of the bag (72) remains unsupported.

I claim:
 1. A device for supporting bags of various dimensions toconvert them into baskets, particularly for refuse, providing support ofone or more bags and other objects at the same time, which comprises:(a)a first support vertically disposed comprising two arms forming an anglehaving the shape of an upturned V, said arms being rounded close to theangle at the base of the V and having at their ends means through whicha shaft of a second support member can pivot, said angle receivingaround it a handle of one side of the bag to be supported and alsoserving for suspending the device to a hanger; (b) the second supportmember which comprises said shaft presenting at its ends two arms toform a wide open U, said arms of the second support member beingflexible and having at their ends supporting means for the opposite sideof the bag, pivoting of said second support member allowing saidsupporting means to hold the walls of the bags at different locationspermitting the size and shape of the bag opening to vary; and (c) athird support member comprising a folding base which rotates on theshaft of said second support member, said folding base having lockingmeans adapted to co-act with the first support member to lock togethersaid folding base and said first support member, allowing the device tobe stood on the ground, the second support member being freely pivotabletherebetween, said folding base being able to be unlocked and unfoldedto allow accommodation of bags of greater heights.
 2. Device accordingto claim 1 wherein the supporting means of the two arms of the secondsupport member comprises a hook and a loop, said hook serving forpiercing the side of the bag and the loop for supporting the piercedside so as to prevent it from sliding downwards, and hook and loop beingadapted to the bag.
 3. Device according to claim 1 wherein said two armsof the second support member are slanted vertically and symmetrically atleast at a point along their lengths, forming angles on each arm. 4.Device according to claim 1 wherein said folding base is made of aflexible material and has two arms to present the shape of a U, each armof said folding base being provided with a loop, said loops allowing thefolding base to rotate about the shaft of the first support member, saidarms of the folding base each presenting an extension with grip meansadapted to grip the arms of the first support member to lock the foldingbase to the first support member at an angle of about 90 degrees. 5.Device according to claim 1 wherein the second support member holds onits shaft several pairs of arms moving on either side of the firstsupport member, said pairs of arms having the shape of an H instead of aU and the lower ends thereof having loops, said shafts passing throughsaid loops while their upper ends have means for supporting one side ofthe bag, the opposite side of the bag being held by an adjacent support.6. Device according to claim 1 wherein the first support member isprovided along its two arms with carrying means which comprises lowercarrying means at the bottom of said arms for fixing a base holding thefirst support member vertically and other carrying means at other levelsalong said arms to carry supports comprising two twin pivoting rods,said supports being free to pivot and to be locked.
 7. Device accordingto claim 1 wherein the first support member is of a straight U shapemade of flexible material, the upper end of each arm of the firstsupport member having a hook loop type means to hold the bag by fourarms.
 8. Device according to claim 1 wherein the first support member isof an H shape made of flexible material, the upper end of each arm ofthe first support member having a hook loop type means to hold the bagby four arms, the lower ends of the arms of the first support membereach having a loop to allow said first support member to rotate aboutthe shaft of the second support member.
 9. Device according to claim 1wherein the folding base comprises two crossed bars comprising a lowerbar and an upper bar joined together by a shaft at a middle point, theupper bar co-acting with lower ends of the two arms of the first supportmember and comprising feet having lower faces at a same level as lowerfaces of feet of the lower bar, said upper and lower bars being adaptedto rotate and spread away from each other to put the device in anupright position.
 10. Device according to claim 4 wherein said foldingbase comprises pivots integrated therewith adapted to co-act withcarrier means of the first support member.
 11. Device according to claim1 wherein the arms are made of plasticized resilient metal.
 12. A devicefor supporting bags of various dimensions to convert them into baskets,particularly for refuse, providing support to one or more bags and otherobjects at the same time, which comprises:(a) a first support membercomprising two arms forming an angle having the shape of an upturned V,said arms being rounded close to the angle and being provided at theirends with means through which a shaft of a second support member pivots,said angle receiving around it a handle of one side of the bag to besupported and also serving for suspending the device to a hanger; and(b) the second support member comprising said shaft presenting at itsends two arms to form a wide open U, said arms of the second supportmember being flexible and having at their ends supporting means for theopposite side of the bag, pivoting of said second support memberallowing said supporting means to hold the walls of the bags atdifferent locations permitting the size and shape of the bag opening tovary.
 13. Device according to claim 12 wherein the arms of said firstsupport member are reduced to support clearing means having a circularshape and forming an integral part therewith, said clearing meansprojecting forwardly to reach the opening of the bag when the latter ishooked thereon.
 14. Device according to claim 12 wherein the arms aremade of plasticized resilient metal.